Given @sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz 's disclosure about having not even seen other depicted dragons, it should actually be: "Why are the Shrek dragon's eyes stylized like a cat's?"
Cats have vertical slits because their prey animals consist of rodents (ground) and birds (air). The slit gives them a larger vertical field of view. Imagine viewing life like a TikTok influencer.
Some prey animals (goats) have horizontal slits so they can more easily watch for predators.
And when they successfully subdue the dragon, they exchange their eyes with them. So this is the perfect answer to both the questions of why cats have dragon eyes and why dragons have cat eyes.
oh See Invisible doesn't work as well with round eyes, it's easier to collect the threads of reality on the sharper edges of cat eyes. You'll find similar eyes on most creatures that can see invisible things.
Their pupils are vertical slits so they can let more or less light in,
The same goes for round pupils so that doesn't explain why they are vertical. They are also mostly found in nocturnal predators, so regulating light intake isn't that biggest concern (in fact they often also have a tapetum lucidum to re-use the little light they can get).
From what I've read the vertical shape of the pupil is beneficial for judging distances (important for pouncing on things).
Just so I understand. Why does a real life animal have the eyes of a fictional creature, in this instance, one created in a CGI film made within the last 25 years?
20 Comments
Dotcom@lemmy.ml · 24 pts · 356d
Considering one exists and the other doesn't, a better question might be why do people draw dragons with cat eyes.
sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz · 6 pts · 356d
Ah, the ol' Lemmy switche-roo
datavoid@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 356d
Hold on to my Linux memes - actually nevermind
sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 356d
Nah its cool; ive come to exoect and lean in to them
Flagstaff@programming.dev · 4 pts · 356d
Given @sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz 's disclosure about having not even seen other depicted dragons, it should actually be: "Why are the Shrek dragon's eyes stylized like a cat's?"
Go watch The Witcher S1, OP!
sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 355d
I mean, ive def seen many other dragons, I just dont actively recall as explicitly as i do with the Shrek dragon
angrystego@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 356d
But what would be the fun in that question?
berdandy@lemmy.ca · 15 pts · 356d
Because dragons drawn with goat eyes would be weird.
angrystego@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 356d
Now I need a weird goat-eyed dragon.
DemBoSain@midwest.social · 8 pts · 356d
Cats have vertical slits because their prey animals consist of rodents (ground) and birds (air). The slit gives them a larger vertical field of view. Imagine viewing life like a TikTok influencer.
Some prey animals (goats) have horizontal slits so they can more easily watch for predators.
actionjbone@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 356d
Because, as a rite of passage, all newborn cats must slay a dragon and take its eyes.
angrystego@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 356d
And when they successfully subdue the dragon, they exchange their eyes with them. So this is the perfect answer to both the questions of why cats have dragon eyes and why dragons have cat eyes.
Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 6 pts · 356d
I think you mean why do dragons have cat eyes
sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 356d
Probably
violetsoftness@piefed.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 356d
oh See Invisible doesn't work as well with round eyes, it's easier to collect the threads of reality on the sharper edges of cat eyes. You'll find similar eyes on most creatures that can see invisible things.
lvxferre@mander.xyz · 5 pts · 356d
remon@ani.social · 6 pts · 356d
The same goes for round pupils so that doesn't explain why they are vertical. They are also mostly found in nocturnal predators, so regulating light intake isn't that biggest concern (in fact they often also have a tapetum lucidum to re-use the little light they can get).
From what I've read the vertical shape of the pupil is beneficial for judging distances (important for pouncing on things).
orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 356d
Just so I understand. Why does a real life animal have the eyes of a fictional creature, in this instance, one created in a CGI film made within the last 25 years?
remon@ani.social · 3 pts · 356d
Can you explain what a dragon eyes are in the context of Shrek?
sopularity_fax@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 356d
... no
Pat_Riot@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 356d
I believe the term is "come hither".